Danny Maciocia knew there was something special about receiver Régis Cibasu from the moment he laid eyes on him at Collège Edouard-Montpetit.

“When we saw him, obviously we saw the potential … the player we thought he could be,” said Maciocia, the head coach at Université de Montréal. “It didn’t take too long before he showed it, especially in Year 1.

“He’s a great kid who has never missed a game, a meeting, a lift, a run, a practice. He’s been the model of consistency here. He’s very low key. Zero maintenance. There’s never been an issue off the field. I can’t believe we’re already heading into the fifth year with him. It’s gone so fast — and we’ve hardly spoken to each other,” Maciocia added with a laugh.

Cibasu might have a year of university eligibility remaining, but nobody expects him back with the Carabins in 2018. If the 24-year-old isn’t playing in the NFL, he’ll most certainly be selected early this May, when the Canadian Football League holds its draft.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder, a native of Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo, leaves Sunday for St. Petersburg, Fla. Cibasu is one of two CIS players — along with Alberta offensive-tackle Matt Korte — invited to the Jan. 20 East-West Shrine all-star game. The match, played annually since 1925, brings together NCAA draft-eligible seniors although, of late, officials have allowed two Canadian-trained players to participate.

Maciocia, a former general manager and head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos, recommended Cibasu last November, during CIS meetings at the Vanier Cup — and with justification.

Maciocia started fielding calls from NFL scouts last winter about Cibasu. He has heard from at least six teams, all of which believe the business major possesses the rare combination of size, speed and talent. Every NFL team will be represented in Florida. Some will pay more attention to the weeklong practices, others to the actual game.

Regardless, this is Cibasu’s opportunity — perhaps his only one, unless he decides to organize a pro day — to leave a lasting impression south of the border. The moment hasn’t been lost on the soft-spoken player.

“It’s pretty big for me, honestly. I’m not going to lie or hide it. I’m pretty proud,” he said. “It just shows there’s a lot of talent in Quebec, too, and Canada.

“There’s a big chance in front of me,” Cibasu added. “It’s all up to me if I’m going to take it and present myself. But it’s a big chance and I have to take it. I’m just excited. I can’t wait to leave and showcase my talent.”

Cibasu burst onto the university scene with prominence as a rookie in 2014, catching 32 passes for 407 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He was named the offensive rookie of the year in the Quebec conference. In the Carabins’ Vanier Cup victory against McMaster, Cibasu led all receivers with six catches for 90 yards, including a crucial 32-yard reception that set up a touchdown. He was named the game’s most valuable player.

In 31 career games at Montréal, he caught 145 passes for 1,765 yards while scoring seven touchdowns. He becomes the first Carabins player selected for the Shrine game. Other Quebecers chosen include McGill’s Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, now the starting right guard for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Laval receiver Anthony Auclair, who plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“He has a huge upside. I think the best is yet to come,” Maciocia said. “If there’s a team that’s willing to take a good, hard look at him and invest time, they may be surprised to see what they’re getting.

“He’s got some wiggle in his hips. He can make you miss. He can physically overpower you. He’s got all the intangibles you need to have to play multiple positions. He checks off a few boxes.”

Although Cibasu hasn’t played a game since the Carabins’ loss to Laval in the Dunsmore Cup, two months ago, he said he has kept himself sharp. He doesn’t believe he’ll have trouble adjusting to four-down football. One of his scheduled quarterbacks is Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett.

“It’s still football,” Cibasu said. “I believe I’m good enough to play there. I think I’ve got all the physical attributes, the capacity, all the things. It’s just up to me to showcase my talents and prove I can play and belong there.”

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